Scaffold bracket



Aug- 20; 1946 c. HUsHowER 2,406,078 y SCAFFOLD BRACKET I Filed April 2l,1945 V 15.5' www fg/7552i??? BY maf/M Patented Aug. 20? 1946 UNITEDVfs'rn'rs PATENT OFFICE "mv"iz,40s,o7s .A scAFFoLD BRACKET z., f clarenceW. nushdwer, south nena, Ina.

` V Application April 21, 1945, Serial No. 589,600

This invention relates to improvements in scaf fold brackets.

The primary object of the invention is to pro- Vide a scaffold bracketwhich can be used to support va horizontal platform-supporting member ofa scaffold at any selected elevation upon a post of a scaffold of eitherthe single poleror double pole type.

A further object is to provide a simple, light weight and inexpensivebracket which serves to releasably connect supported and supportingscaffold members together by a firm frictional clamping action. p

A further object is to provide a scaffold bracket with a guide forcontrolling movement of the end of a horizontal scaffold member withrespect to a vertical membern which it abuts, in such manner that thefractional ybinding engagement between the parts increases as the loadupon the horizontal member increases.

' A further object is to provide a scaffold bracket adapted to embrace aVertical supporting scaffold part and having an inclined guide engagedby a horizontal supported scaffold part abutting 'said supporting part,whereby said supported part is i wedged by the cooperating factors ofabutting .engagement of the supported and supporting parts and theguided engagement of said supported part and said bracket.

Other objects will be apparent from the de-f scription, drawing andappended claims.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a double polescaffold, illustrating the use of my new scaffold bracket.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view of a single pole scaffold,illustrating the use of my-new bracket therein.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken o line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates the bers l2 upon which aworking platform I4 is supu 11 claims. (creol- 32) ported. It will beunderstood that such double pole scaffolds may be connected to andbraced `from the building wall, but such connections are not relied upon.to support the loadswhich the Ascaffold bears. In the instantconstruction, the horizontal platform-supporting members I2 are of alength equal to' the spacing of the posts in different rows. Ahorizontal bolt f6 passes through each end portion of each member l2 inspaced relation to the end edge thereof, and a wing nut I8 is threadedon said bolt. Y

A bracket 20 serves to connect each end portion of member' l2 to theadjacent post l0. Each bracket comprises a pair of flat C-shaped` plates`each having a wide vertical central web portion 22 and parallelhorizontal arms 24. Theterminal portions 26 of the arms 24 are ofincreased thickness to provide inwardly facing vertical shoulders r28adapted to bear against the Vouter ,vertical surfaceof post `Il! atvertically spaced points. Thethickened terminal arm portions 26 areapertured to receive a bolt 3l! passing therethrough and mounting athumb nut 32. The shoulders 28 formed by the-thickened terminal portions26 are of a width slightly less than onehalf the width or thickness ofpost l l] so that the thickened portions are spaced apart as best Vshownin Fig. 3. z Nut 32 is preferably adjusted to permit `the clamp parts tolie flat against opposite sides of post l0 without play'but with asliding engagement. The web portion 22 of each bracket plate has anelongated. slot 34 thereinV which is inclined slightly from thevertical, asillustrated.

In use, the brackets 20 are fitted upon the posts lli, and the nuts 32are adjusted to;4 permit a snug sliding fit of the bracket plates uponthe posts. The bolts I6 at the opposite ends of horizontal scaffoldmembers l2r are passed through ythe slots 34 of the bracket webs andthrough member I2. Nuts I6 are. then adjusted for; a snug but slidingfit. Thev horizontal scaffold member |2 may then be adjusted at anyselected elevation, .care being taken to so'positionitwith respect tothe bracket that its end edges are in firm abutment with the Vposts l0as shown in Fig. 3; This binds vthe parts together firmly in frictionalclamping engagement; As weight.` is applied to member I2 thereafter, anydownward sliding of member l2 relative to the posts Illand bracket 20serves merelyto increase. ortighten the frictional clamping engagent ofclamp 20 and member l2 upon the post l0, by reason ofthe inclination ofslot 34 which acts to bind the parts more,r firmly. When thelevelAofmember l2 is to be changed, the parts are disengaged by I6 arelocated at the lower parts of the slots 'toVr again effect a Vclampingaction between the ends of member I2 and the shoulders 28 of thebracket1 with respect to the post. Y Y Y Y The two-part construction ofY thebrackets 2li" is desirable but not essential; Thus, inthe-posts 'i jcured in position. This obviously facilitates and simplies handling,inasmuch as bracket 20 does I not require the use of securing means butonly relative manipulation of' parts to take advantage of itsself-binding or wedged gripping action.

`I claim:

1. A scalold bracket for securing `a horizontal scaifold membertoa'post, comprising a pair offlat C-shaped plates adapted to bear againstopposite yside faces of a post, said plates having -thickened .terminalportions providing vertically aligned shoulders engaging the outerfaceof said post. and a vertical central web slotted in spaced shouldnot be of uniform dimensions through- ,Y

out their length, or if ,they should swell due to` weather conditions sothat the brackets do not slide freely thereon, a vslight loosening ofthe nuts 32. is all that is required to remedy thedifculty.. In otherwords', adjustment isprovided ance is provided. without necessitatingeircess play or oversize dimensions. Another advantage of the two-piececlamp constru'ction shown L is that the clamp can-be used` with posts ofdifferent thicknesses sirnply by adjusting the connecting bolt and nutproperly. It will be. understood, however, that IA contemplate theintegral onepiece construction ofi the clamps as. being within thepurview of the invention,

The invention is'al'so applicableto conventional single, polescaffolds,V as illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, 'where' the horizontalmembers AI2 constitute putlogs supported vat their inner. endsby abuilding wall 46 and at their outer ends. by posts Ill. In this typeof'scaiold a bracket. 20 is utilized' inthe manner Vdescribed aboveto'support 'only the outerend` of putlog 20'. `The opposite end of thepu-tlo'g isV secured to a iitting 42. The iitting 42 preferablycomprises a flat base plate-44 of substantial area andk acentrallso'cketV It` projecting fromene face Ao'f said plate'. to snuglyreceivefthe end. of member I2. A bolt 43 passeslthrough' openings in theopposite. walls. of

socket YIl and through the member I2, and f mounts a ythumb nut 50. Aplurality of openings 'are formedin plate 4d to receive securing mem-'bersi 50 whichv lodge in the. wallk 40` to support. the fitting.Membersw 5U have been illustrated here- -in-as screws, but nails52asshown in Fig. 2,.'may

also. be used.. Double-headedn-ails. 52' well known inthe art,whereirijtheY inner` head 54 limits the extent -to which the nail may bedrivenand. the

' 'tomeetfdifferent conditions soV that sliding clear.-

relation to the inner face of said post andinclined downwardly andoutwardly relative' tothe plane 'of saidA shoulders, means securing saidterminal portions together, and securing means carried byV saidhorizontal member and slidable in said inclined slots to guide Vsaidhorizontal mem-1 vrber intoV rni endabutment with said vpost upon'downward movement of said member relative to said post. and bracket.

22 A scalTold bracketfor securing Va horizontal scaiold member' to apost, comprising a pair of Vplates adapted toi bear slidably againstopposite side facesofsaicl post and having a projection at one side edgeproviding a Vertical shoulder adapted. tcl-bear against the outer faceof saidv pest, meansV for connecting said plates adjacent saidshoulders, each plate having an elongated slot therein inclined slightlyrelative to said Vshoulders and spaced from the inner face ofy saidpost,

and amember carried by and projecting from said horizontal member andslidably received in said slots. `r .Y

" 31 A scaffold bracket for securing a horizontal fscaiold member to apost, comprisingV a twopart Vbody adapted to embrace vandfslldably en;gage three faces of said post,v .means securing Vsaldi bodyY partstogether adjacent one of said engaged faces, said horizontal memberbeing arranged iniend abutment with the fourth side of outer-head. 56,is spaced from the inner rhead suf.'-

cientlyto afford a convenient portion .which canbe engaged by hammerclaws. to pull theV V`Ybracket 20' is. capable' of supporting-.themember tzfif said member'is'not loaded, during the time the tting 42i'sbeing secured in place or during the tieit is beingV releasedpreparatory to Yshif'ti'ngfthemember.I2; vIn other words, thev 're-Yl'easable-bracket' 20l Vcaribe set' as desired and Twin siiiaprtgthehorizntai gements @tieneimi-,i1 `thespplemntal supports are anchoredAor'sesaid post parallel opposed portions of said body engaging oppositesides vof said'liorizontal membe'randeach having an elongated slottherein incline'd downwardly toward .said post at-a small angle, andafbolt extending through said horizontal member and seated slidably insaid" slots. 4. A scaioldbracket for secnringa horizontal scaffold.member to a post, comprising two-part body of generally U-shaped cross?section, adapted to slidably embrace .a post withfits opposite endsprojecting laterally from oneside of said vpost to engage opposite sidesof said horizontal member,

said. .projecting ends each having an elongated inclined slot, meansprojecting outwardly fromv said horizontal member and slidable in saidslots, and' means connecting said bracket parts together. U

` 5'. A scaffold bracket for securing a horizontal scaffold member to apost, comprising a member U-shaped in horizontal cross section. andadapted to slidably embrace a post, the opposite sides of said memberbeing wider than. said post. and each having an elongated inclined slotitherein. spaced `from. said post', and means carried .by said.horizontaly member and received in said slots toi draw said horizontalmember into iirm end abutment with said'post upondownward movementthereofV relative'to said post andbracket.

6. In a scai'ol'd, a vertical post," a'horizontal scaffold; member, avU-shaped g scaiold-"bra'cket -slidably ,embracing said post andhavingsubstanf 'tially parallel vertical parts projecting atfoppcsite van",

sides of said horizontal scaffold member, said projecting parts eachhaving an elongated slot spaced from and inclined downwardly toward saidpost, and means connecting said horizontal member to said bracket andslidable in said slots to urge the end of said horizontal member intofirm frictional engagement with said post upon movement thereofdownwardly relative to said post and bracket.

'7. In a scaffold, a vertical post, a horizontal scaffold member, abracket slidably embracing said, post and having substantially parallelvertical portions engaging opposite sides of and projecting laterallyfrom said horizontal member, each of said projecting portions having aninclined slot, and a bolt extending through said horizontal member andslidable in said slots, said bolt and slots serving to draw thehorizontal member and bracket into clamping engagement with said postwith a force proportional to the load on said horizontal member.

8. In a scaffold, a vertical post, a horizontal scaffold member, abracket slidably embracing said post and having substantially parallelvertical portions engaging opposite sides of and projecting laterallylfrom said horizontal member, each of said projecting portions having aninclined slot, and a bolt extending through said horizontal member andslidable in said slots, said bolt and slots serving to draw Athehorizontal member and bracket into clamping engagement with said postwith a force proportional to the load on said horizontal member, saidbracket being formed of two complementary parts of substantially L-shapein horizontal section and con nected together at their outer ends. Y

9. In a scaffold adapted to be erected adjacent to a building wall, avertical post spaced from said wall, a horizontal platform support inend engagement with said post, a fitting carried by the opposite end ofsaid platform support and adapted to be secured to said wall, and abracket slidably embracing said post and projecting at opposite sides ofsaid platformsupport, said bracket having complementary elongatedslightly inclined slots spaced from said post, and a bolt carried bysaid platform support and slidable in said slots to urge said platformsupport and bracket into binding frictional clamping engagement withsaid post.

10. In a scaffold adapted to be erected adjacent to a building wall, avertical post spaced from said wall, a horizontal platform support inend engagement with said post, a fitting carried by the opposite end ofsaid platform support andv adapted to be secured to said wall, and abracket slidably embracing said post and projecting at opposite sides ofsaid platform support, said bracket having complementary elongatedslightly inclined slots spaced from said post, and a bolt carried by`said platform support and slidable in said slots to urge said platformsupport and bracket into binding frictional clamping engagement withsaid post, said fitting including a plate bearing against said wall anda socket receiving said platform support.

11. A scaffold bracket for releasably mounting a horizontal memberslidably upon a post, comprising a rigidsubstantially U-shaped membervembracing said post with its ends projecting laterally from said postand provided with complementary elongated slightly inclinedguides spacedfrom said post, and a slide member xedly carried by said horizontalmember and extending transversely between and slidably engaging saidguides to urge said horizontal member and bracket into frictionalclamping engagement with sa'id post.

CLARENCE lW. HUSHOWER.

